Bundaberg, QLD 4670

I lived in Bundaberg for 20 years and it's a great place to bring up a family, adequate medical centres and good hospital. The botanical gardens are stunning and great parks are around, good shopping centres and industrial areas for all your needs. Of course the night-life is minimal but it doesn't matter if ur a young family or retired. Great country schools and surrounded by beaches in neighbouring towns. Loved my time here. Hope you enjoy it too.

Bundaberg is not a very nice place to live. I regretted my time living here and if I had my time over I would have never come. Avoid.

I don’t need to find work as my husband and I are self employed and work from home. If we had to find work here, I don’t know if we’d be so happy as apart from a few industries, I hear work is difficult to come by. But the people here have been nothing but lovely to us, everyone is so friendly, something you just don’t get in Sydney. People go out of their way to help us for no other reason than to be nice. The public parks and pools are beautiful, the small zoo is free! The Kids playgrounds are plentiful and great. Elliot heads beach is incredible at high tide and rivals any tropical paradise. We bought a huge house on a huge lot for 1/10th what it would of cost us in Sydney, our quality of life has shot up astronomically. My neighbours are the sweetest people who collect my mail, put out my bins when I leave for holiday before bin day, keep an eye out on the place, honestly, Bundaberg has been the greatest decision we’ve ever made. It was a huge risk that paid off!! Downside, rates are expensive at $3200 a year, but again, our big beautiful house was so affordable compared to anywhere else it still makes it worth it.

It takes at least 10 days to hear if your application is successful or not, which it won't be unless your a Doctor or Nurse or maybe Teacher (ie have a government job - don't bother if you work for a private company).

Worst mistake I've made was accepting a job offer in Bundy.

Growth is steady. Can take a lot to change (important) peoples views.
Plenty of schools. Plenty of shops. All the necessities are well and truly catered for.
Maybe off the Bruce Highway, but is very close to some great beaches.

Climate is generally great ALL year round.

Unemployment is a problem, but there are jobs out there. This is one of the main reasons Bundaberg is a main stay for many Backpackers.

One factor which is a concern of many locals is that the outer suburbs streets are poorly built, i.e not gutter to gutter, but a narrow strip of bitumen. Surely some Rates paid could address these concerns

Not the greatest place, but nowhere near the worst!

Bundy. Love it or hate it..

It has pros and cons just like any other area, but be prepared for the typical attitude towards change. It hurts me to say but Bundy just isnt going anywhere. Most people struggle to break free from the ties that seem to bind then to the region. Ie You move away and end up becomibg sucked back into the abysmally dark backwater that is Bundaberg.
Dont get me wrong, I have family and emotional ties there, but having lived in nearly every state in Australia and ina handfull of places around the world, Bundaberg just seems to suck the energy out of life. :(

Employment! Its a huge problem thats becoming increasingly worse for future youth and the existing working populace.

-Plagued by small mindedness, bad managers, small buisness owners and locals trapped in a till death do they inpart change role.

Dont even get me started on the explosive temprement drivers.... Insanity rules!

My claims sadly evidenced by:

-Minimal regional investment.
-Small minded council hindering regional infrastructure, development and growth.
(The council was so stupid that they lost the oppertunity to have major airline connections) however now have virgin regional on one flight a day alongside qantas regional.
-Minimal future predicted growth or oppertunity.
-Exorbitant ever rising council rates despite seemingly doing nothing, yet padding their own wages!
-Minimal to no long term career options apart from health or farming related industry.
-Terrible road to any civilisation north or south.
-Ever growing alcahol and substance abuse, mainly due to the lack of mental stimulus in the region!
-Bundabergs geographic location, Its in the middle of no where. You bypass it going north and south.
-Is a bright future in the cards for Bundaberg? I sadly doubt it unless BIG changes happen.